What breed are we and when will we lay eggs?

[Chris09]

Quote:
I just put them on it this week. 16%.
Chris

\\Thats the reason they are not laying...i would feed only a 18% layer. Any pullet at 26 weeks should be fed layer.

I have seen this many times, putting them only on the layer 24/7 will have them laying........my guess within 2 weeks

I agree with

Thats the reason they are not laying

that could be the reason but any pullet at 26 should be fed a lay I don't agree with. (sorry)
If I but my big old exhibition R.I. Reds on layer at 26 week they wouldn't be near the size they are and I would would be pumping extra calcium into them that they wouldn't need for another 4 to 5 months. My Reds take forever to mature, even on 20 to 28 percent protein.

I will agree that most small bodied large fowl and hatchery fowl should be laying and in turn on layer by 26 weeks, but you would be really pushing a big bodied exhibition fowl to lay at 26 weeks.

Chris​

 

[stcroixusvi]

Quote:
I agree, they look a lot younger than my birds born in early May.

Here's one:

and another

 

[whitecra]

Quote:
Thanks. I thought they looked healthy. They are happy. I can't even go outside when they are turned loose. I almost step on them. If I sit down some of them will jump up in my lap.
Chris

 

[greenscape]

I keep 50 Layer hens, RIR, Red Sex link, and Blk sex link. Have for years.
Feed 16% lay Pellets and Oyster shell available 24/7. Two small runs I alternate for free range grazing. I start on pellets at 4mo. Usually laying with in a month. Most chickens lay between 4-6 months. So yours should start soon.
When everything is right weather etc. I get an average of 40 eggs a day. The extreme heat we had this summer will stress them out and delay the onset of egg production and growth. it will also stop them from laying as I experienced this summer.
Of course the sex links are bred for laying and never slowed down last year. RIR's are good layers with an average of 4 eggs a week.
The EE's I don't know that mush about.
I also have 36 trio's of OEGB's and Cochins. They all stopped laying this summer just started back with this last cool spell.

Weather will have a major effect on Chickens. It is stressful!! We had a lot of days in the 110- 116 here at my house in southern Oklahoma.

 

[whitecra]

Quote:
I know one day my car said is was 119 outsiide here. It is the middle of Sept. and it was 101 here today. We have had over 50 days of over 100 and a lot of those were 105 or more. I am hoping since it has started cooling off some at night now that they will start laying.
Chris

 

[angie3881]

I started mine on 16% layer and cracked corn as soon as they feathered out.

 

[greenscape]

They don't need the corn. Lay pellets has all they need and they eat the oyster shells when their body tells them too. Corn will just make them fat and fat hens don't lay as well as lean mean egg machines. Oh if you are keeping them penned all the time they will need sand and fine gravel for grinding their food.

 

[greenscape]

Oh I an Aracana Roo that will go good with the Hen in front of Pic 2

 

[deerman]

Quote:
\\Thats the reason they are not laying...i would feed only a 18% layer. Any pullet at 26 weeks should be fed layer.

I have seen this many times, putting them only on the layer 24/7 will have them laying........my guess within 2 weeks

I agree with

Thats the reason they are not laying

that could be the reason but any pullet at 26 should be fed a lay I don't agree with. (sorry)
If I but my big old exhibition R.I. Reds on layer at 26 week they wouldn't be near the size they are and I would would be pumping extra calcium into them that they wouldn't need for another 4 to 5 months. My Reds take forever to mature, even on 20 to 28 percent protein.

I will agree that most small bodied large fowl and hatchery fowl should be laying and in turn on layer by 26 weeks, but you would be really pushing a big bodied exhibition fowl to lay at 26 weeks.

Chris​

Chris I agree with show stock, you would not even want them laying early. You want them to grow without stress, even a little stress will show up in their feathers and etc.

 

[angie3881]

Quote:
Well, my chickens are kinda big! LOL. So no cracked corn?? Mine free range, get layer, cracked corn and bread a few times a week. Oh, geez I have a vision of very obese chickens in my coop, now!

Everything I read made it sound like cracked corn was good. I have peacocks, too. Maybe that is why I started adding cracked corn.

They also never have empty food dishes.

I hate the thought of anybody being hungry.